United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has asked Member States to inform him by 6 March if they intend to make voluntary financial contributions to the implementation of the new UN plan to counter cholera in Haiti, his spokesman said today.

"Earlier this week the Secretary-General sent a letter to all Member States," in that regard, the Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told reporters at the regular daily briefing at UN Headquarters in New York.

"As you are aware, under the new approach https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19550-haiti-politics-un-adopts-new-strategy-against-cholera-in-haiti.html , the UN is intensifying support to the Haitian government in building sound water, sanitation and health systems – the best long-term defence against cholera and other water-borne diseases – and also developing a support package to provide material assistance and support to Haitians most directly affected by cholera."

In his letter, the Secretary-General recalled that the UN bears a moral responsibility for ensuring that the new approach, launched in a report to UN Member States on 1 December 2016, is implemented, Mr. Dujarric added.

Costing around $400 million over the next two years, the proposed UN package under the new approach will centre on two different elements, known as "Track One" and "Track Two".

The first is a much strengthened and better funded effort to address and reduce the incidence of cholera, while addressing short- and long-term water, sanitation and health system and improving access to care and treatment.

The second component of the new strategy is to develop a program of material assistance and support to Haitians most directly affected by cholera. This should include consultation with affected individuals and communities in the development of this program.

Out of the 400 million of program intended to fight against cholera in Haiti, only "2% of funding promises have been kept," indicated UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in his letter "The voluntary contributions we have received are not yet sufficient to cover what is planned," wGuterres, stressing that" if financing does not materialize, another solution of financing will have to be explored."

To date, only South Korea, France, Liechtenstein, India, and Chile have contributed approximately $2 million to the UN fund, with Canada and Japan having separately endowed it with 7 millions.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19550-haiti-politics-un-adopts-new-strategy-against-cholera-in-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19496-haiti-health-eliminating-cholera-in-haiti-a-matter-of-money.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-18970-haiti-health-un-creates-a-fund-to-fight-against-cholera-in-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19030-haiti-cholera-new-un-approach.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-18970-haiti-health-un-creates-a-fund-to-fight-against-cholera-in-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-18778-haiti-health-alarming-evolution-of-cholera-in-the-country-2016.html

HL/ S/ HaitiLibre